Audio 4:05
New documentary on Afghan camel drivers in Australia

An Afghan film maker has made a documentary about the pioneering Afghan cameleers who came to Australia in the 1800s.

Transcript

TIM PALMER: While debate intensifies over asylum seekers, the descendants of the first Afghans to arrive in Australia are celebrating the achievements of their ancestors.

An Afghan filmmaker has made a documentary about the Afghan cameleers who came to Australia more than a century ago, and travelled across some of the harshest parts of the country.

Afghan Cameleers has been shown in Afghanistan already and will have its first official Australian screening tomorrow at the National Film and Sound Archive in Canberra.

Social Affairs reporter Sally Sara.

SALLY SARA: More than a century ago, foreign troops were on their way out of Afghanistan and some Afghans were on their way to Australia to work in the outback.

Now, foreigners are leaving Afghanistan all over again and a new generation of Afghans is arriving on our shores.

Among them, is Fahim Hashimy, a refugee turned film maker who wants to make sure that Afghans and Australians know their shared history.

Mr Hashimy has made a documentary about the Afghan camel drivers who helped to open up the interior.

FAHIM HASHIMY: They did prove that they can contribute the Australia, to Australia and I think the Afghans did a mighty job in this country.

SALLY SARA: Cameleers from Afghanistan, India and what is now Pakistan were brought to Australia in the mid to late 1800s.

Mr Hashimy says it's been fascinating to meet their descendents in the Australian outback, and says he can see the faces of his own people in their features.

FAHIM HASHIMY: Actually I could see my cousins in their eyes, you know? When I saw, especially Bob Shamroze, when I saw him I thought, oh, this is my cousin Daoud. You know my cousin's name is Daoud. And they say oh!

SALLY SARA: Fahim Hashimy's documentary has been shown in Afghanistan and will be screened in Canberra tomorrow.

Bob Shamroze lives at Broken Hill and is the grandson of one of the original cameleers.

BOB SHAMROZE: Yeah, I'm very proud of what they did, all the hard work and that they done and all the travelling they done carting goods out to the out stations. They even carted gear for the mines and the railways. You know, it must have been really hard back in them days.

SALLY SARA: Mr Shamroze now takes care of the Old Cameleers' Mosque in Broken Hill. The small, ornate building is more than 100 years old and many young Afghans now visit the site.

BOB SHAMROZE: They come to the mosque to pray over here. They might have a bit of a talk and a bit of a yarn and that's why I like to look after it and keep it in shape and that for people that do like to go there. I get a lot of visitors from away. They really appreciate it.

SALLY SARA: Fahim Hashimy says the story of the first Afghans in Australia is one of loss and gains. The men and their descendents experienced opportunity and increased wealth but some of their culture and religion was lost along the way.

Mr Hashimy can see it happening again, with his own family.

FAHIM HASHIMY: Say, my children, they are going to lose their culture. They're going to lose even their religion by the time if they're going to grow up here.

SALLY SARA: The early days were very difficult for some of the camel drivers.

Nineteenth century Australia was a place where racism was often unchecked.

NEWSPAPER EXCERPT (Archival): The sudden appearance of a drove of camels at a camp about six miles from Charleville lately gave the store-keepers, forwarding agents and carriers of the Warrego an unpleasant shock.

SECOND NEWSPAPER EXCERPT (Archival): Monday, 24th December 1894. The Argus, Melbourne. An open air meeting was held last night, 1,500 persons being present. The speakers admitted that the Afghans had been useful in the past in connection with camels.

THIRD NEWSPAPER EXCERPT (Archival): But in the eye of the industrial white man there's no redeeming feature about the Afghan. He drinks no grog, consumes no luxuries and, it is alleged, refuses to deal with Europeans.

SALLY SARA: Fahim Hashimy says despite the discrimination there were also plenty of stories of good will. He says he's received a warm welcome from Afghan descendants that he meets in the outback.

FAHIM HASHIMY: Never in Australia people were shaking hands that hard, you know? That's sort of the Afghan way.

SALLY SARA: Mr Hashimy hopes that history will lead to greater understanding and more opportunities for Afghans seeking a new life in Australia.